journeying

Still trying to feel out what's next for us as far as church goes.

We think it's a house church. When we were part of a house church before it was the best times of church for us bar none. Trickier with kids, but I'm starting to believe that children's programs aren't nearly as essential as I once thought they were. It's about relationship, not teaching, not programs. We will do more for our children's lives by being part of something where relationship is highly valued and sought than by exposing them to well-oiled children's ministries where they only interact with other kids (Hold on to Your Kids did a lot for my thinking in this regard).

We also think it's something new. Different people have suggested house churches they know about. However, every time they do there is something inside me that says no - this is supposed to be new. I told Rob that one day and he said he has been feeling the same way. That doesn't mean we, by ourselves, are going to plant a church. It means we hope to find other like-minded people who want to group together and start something together with input from everyone and less of an emphasis on who's in charge.

Values that are important to us, and I hope would be important to the church, are:
1. Relationship and community
2. Reality
3. Celebration